Divine Emperor of Death

*Boom!~*

The air quaked as fists clashed, and a resonant metallic sound rang out in the spacious room as two figures retreated. Yet, with a rumbling step, they shot towards each other, a brownish-golden light encapsulating their fists as they turned into hardened scales, throbbing with the earthen might of the Earth Dragon as they threw their fists again.

*Thwack!~*

A column of earthen sand erupted from their attacks as they were blasted into retreating again, their fists appearing sunken ever so slightly, even reddish.

The moment they retreated, sliding heavily before balancing themselves on the surface, they looked at their hands and saw that the hardened scales encasing their fingers were broken. However, they only stopped for a moment before exploding forward again.

Their figures invited a sonic boom before they clashed.

*Boom!~* *Boom!~* *Boom!~*

Their bosoms were continually heaving as they exerted a flurry of attacks, fist barrage, palm strikes, and stomping kicks. But each one of those attacks thrown with the might of thousands of Emperor Grade Ores was blocked by each other, no matter how they tried to gain one over the other.

At this point, Lea and the others crossed the fifth floor, where Natalya had already taken the Yang Essence Orb and Light Essence Orb, and arrived on the sixth floor, watching the earthshaking battle inside the challenge room.

However, they couldn't help but worry for Isabella as they saw that her opponent was as powerful as her, almost radiating the same aura and prowess as Isabella, appearing enormously threatening and unshakeable.

Although they knew as the floors increased, so did the prowess of their imitations, they couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Natalya had defeated her imitation on the fifth floor that wasn't as powerful as her, being a level lower than her. But for Isabella, who possessed a Supreme Immortal Crest with her High-Level Martial Overlord Stage Cultivation, her prowess surged five levels higher, making her have a solid prowess at the eight-level of Ninth Stage.

Such overwhelming power would've usually caused the collapse of almost all buildings except their Mortal Hex Emperor Purple Palace and caused a spatial rupture to occur. But unlike outside, space here seemed to be extremely stable here, as though it wouldn't crumble to their attacks at all, making them surprised before making them understand that this Nine-Treasured Palace was truly a special place.

But still, such prowess would usually be enough to topple any opponent, but this wasn't the case here. Moreover, just the battle on the sixth floor seemed unbeatable, so what about the upper floors that Davis and Shirley would face? After all, the opponent they would face on the seventh and eighth floor would have a prowess that's six and seven levels above their cultivation, making it so that just the thought of it was ridiculous and utter nonsense!

It was no wonder Myria stopped at that level and came to Davis to do it for her, or so they couldn't help but feel anger.

"Ahaha! This is great!"

*Bang!~*

Fists smashed again as the resounding explosions made the air compress and explode, causing Isabella and the imitation to shudder from the impact. However, Isabella didn't retreat but held on, further invoking her strength from the depths of her bones as she tried to overpower her counterpart.

The fake Isabella also deeply smiled as though she was thoroughly enjoying this battle. Her eyes were wide while her purple hair flailed like the wind, her body radiating a golden hue as they constantly churned out terrifying earthen might that would flatten millions of cultivators below the Fifth Stage.

Each of their strikes could decimate cities, and yet, they were unable to even push each other in the slightest, their arms constantly looking like they were at rest but were trembling heavily.

But in the end, someone was going to more or less fail the test of might if they kept it up. And as exactly as four seconds later, amidst the raging screeches of the sandstorm around them, Isabella's fist slipped, causing the imitation's fist to rush past, gliding on her hardened scales before it struck her abdomen.

*Bang!~*

Isabella was sent flying. However, her feet were thoroughly fixed on the ground, using it as a foothold to keep her from falling as she slid towards the back. Moreover, she had another arm over her abdomen, her palm blocking her imitation's attack with an enduring earthen might that left her unharmed.

Once she stopped sliding, she straightened her back and patted her shoulder, looking rather smug about it.

"Not bad. As expected of me."

"Heh!" The imitation cackled, her lips curving into a mocking smile behind her golden veil, "What's so great about being weak? You're supposed to be the original, yet you can't even beat me."

Isabella's brows frowned, "Stop looking like my heart demon. What kind of illusive formation is this?"

Hearing Isabella's words, the imitation couldn't help but cackle more, shaking her head.

"You think of yourself as his empress, but you know deep in your heart that as long as Evelynn exists, you'll never become his empress."

Isabella's pupils dilated, "Shut up! I'm here to claim the rewards."

"Isn't that the truth? You pride yourself on being his empress, but you aren't in reality. To add oil to the fire, you constantly urge and whisper Davis that he could take more women so that he may favor you over her."

"That's not true! I-"

"Huh, lies. I am you, and you are me. I precisely know what you're thinking about, I-sa-bel-la." The fake Isabella enunciated her name, giggling with amusement as she saw Isabella shudder while having her head lowered.

"Then tell me if I think of Evelynn as my sister or not?"

The imitation narrowed her brows, "You do… but-"

"Then tell me how I feel about giving Celestia to Evelynn?"

"You feel proud and assured to have Evelynn-" The imitation appeared angered at being interrupted again.

"Then do I agree with Davis taking some random woman?"

"… No…"

"Then fuck off!!! Evelynn is my big sister, and Davis is my life that I would do anything to make them happy as they do unto me, so don't you dare try to drive a wedge between us!"

"What? I'm not… these are all our thoughts!"

Halfway through the imitation's confused expression, Isabella shot forwards with a dreadful might emerging from her body. She activated Earth Dragon's Overlord rush, her legs becoming shaped by runes emerging from her bones. Her entire body shone brownish-golden, and even her eyes were almost bloodshot, seemingly having become enraged as her fists shuddered with earth-shattering might.

"Earth Dragon's Destructive Fist!~"

The imitation activated similar techniques, but she was slightly late, and a belated reaction in a close-quarters battle could prove to be fatal. Her expression changed as she moved towards the side accordingly, dodging instead of clashing with her fist.

The terrifying might of Isabella's Destructive Fist shot past her body, almost crushing one side of her body.

"You even activated the Supreme Immortal Crest? Fine! Earth Dragon's Fangclaw Clasp!~"

However, once the imitation retreated to the side, the image of the Earth Dragon overlapped her body before becoming imprinted on her forehead, massive martial energy surging from her middle dantian, running through her arm as she struck out with her palm!

*Aooo!*

An enraging roar of the dragon burst forth, and it shot towards Isabella, engulfing her in a giant brownish-golden maw that shut down on her like two mountains crushing her. However, Isabella exploded with overwhelming power, breaking out of that giant earthen maw as she shot forwards to her imitation, clasping her neck as she slammed her down.

*Bang!~*

But before the imitation could reach the ground, she twisted her body and sent Isabella flying with a resounding kick to her gut, or so she thought when Isabella spat out a mouthful of blood on her face from the impact, still holding her neck and recklessly smashed her down the floor.

*Boom!~*

The imitation spat out a mouthful of blood that dispersed into thin air. Her eyes became blurry when a fist abruptly appeared before her face, causing her eyes to menacingly open in shock as her head swiveled to the side.

*Bang!~*

The floor merely shook. However, one of the fake Isabella's ears became a mangled mess, crushed underneath Isabella's fist.

"Die!"

Isabella's eyes churned with a murderous light as she inclined her arm towards the side and brought down her head without a care for her life. A staggering amount of martial energy surged on top of her forehead, forming two sharp dragon horns and stabbing into the fake imitation's eyes, penetrating into her head.

At the same time, the imitation's hand pierced into Isabella's body, appearing out on the other side with a rib in her hand.

Isabella spat a mouthful of blood again, her eyes trembling as she watched the imitation disperse. On the side of her body, below the right chest, was a gaping hole that caused blood to spill in copious amounts.

Shuddering ever so lightly, Isabella stood up while closing the gaping hole with her palm. Looking at one of her ribs that was half-broken and cracked from the immense grasp of her imitation lying on the ground, she couldn't help but force a smile.

"Isabella!!!"

As the barrier came down, Evelynn screamed as her eyes possessed a tearful shade. However, Isabella froze ever so slightly, her heart skipping a beat in panic.

Did they just hear all of it?

"Quick, take the Life Revitalizing Pill!"

Hearing Evelynn's urging voice, Isabella pursed her lips, hesitating for two seconds before she collected her broken rib with a wave of her hand and took out a pure white pill, swallowing it in one move.

The medicinal essence dwelled in her body and began healing her rapidly. Furthermore, her Supreme Immortal Crest was also active, giving her the energy needed for her to form a layer of hardened scales that disallowed her blood to spill anymore.

Perhaps because it was her own power, she was able to erase the remnant energy haunting her wound and heal more efficiently with a Peak-Level Emperor Grade Pill that was two levels higher.

Davis's avatar had specifically concocted a few batches and distributed them before they journeyed to the Distorted Skies of Yonder, but it was further imbued with his life energy which made her feel comfortable without pain wracking her body.

But still, as she took the Space Essence Orb and Time Essence Orb that she was so eager to obtain and display to the others, she couldn't help but feel ashamed as she walked out, having her head lowered as she was unable to look them in the eyes, especially Evelynn.

"Isabella, are you fine?"

"Mhm…"

To Evelynn's worried tone, Isabella merely produced a hum.

Evelynn heaved a sigh as she saw that her injuries were healing at a rapid pace. Once the remnant energies haunting the body were cleared, as long as the medicinal essence was capable of restoring the body's powerful flesh, they would become healed, and this pill essence was further enhanced by Davis's life energy, so she wasn't surprised by its quick and tremendous efficacy.

She couldn't help but smile at Isabella, raising her hand as she touched Isabella's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. A similar thing happened to me."

Isabella couldn't help but blink before she raised her head. However, she shook her head, her lips curving with a hint of guilt.

"What it said was true..."

"… Only to a minute degree, right?"

"Yes… yes!" Isabella nodded like a hen to Evelynn's smile, "Although this thought exists, it doesn't triumph my affinity towards you, big sister. It's like holding a cup of water, but those thoughts don't even fill a single milliliter of it."

"I know. However, to think you cursed at yourself like someone over here..."

Evelynn glanced at Mingzhi, causing her to roll her eyes, "Well, your imitation cursed at you for hogging Davis all to yourself. Perhaps, you're even crazier than me~"

Evelynn giggled while Isabella laid down her worries after looking that they didn't particularly bother with her deepest thoughts that she had mostly never seen see the light of the day. Was this because Evelynn had also experienced a similar irritating and obnoxious version of themselves that exposed their deepest thoughts?

'Perhaps, these imitations have only one purpose...'

Isabella thought that it was to likely look at oneself introspectively and remove the hypocritical element from their minds, something that was only capable of being cleared after forming heart demons or deeply secluding oneself enough to change one's character.

"Still, the Life Revitalizing Pills only works as a first-aid and forms scabs since your body is too powerful. Let's go look for Davis and have him heal you."

Evelynn clasped Isabella's hand and turned to look at the others, "Enough ogling at the Space and Time Essence Orbs. Let's go up quickly."

"Alright, big sister~"

"But we hadn't even had a look at its otherworldly beauty!"

"We can look at it as much as we want later, even starting to comprehend its essence!"

Natalya and the others echoed their opinions while Isabella hearteningly smiled as she saw them change the topic for her, causing her to take this to heart. She kept the immortal treasures in her spatial ring before moving up along with everyone else.

When they arrived at the seventh floor by walking up the spiraling stairs, they were in for a rude shock as they saw scarlet flames and icy-blue flaming wisps that radiated hot and coldness filling the space!